Lunch box



March 23, 1943. HR|$TEN5EN 2,314,688

LUNCH BOX Filed July 1:5 v 1942 A.B Christensen.

Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNiTE T ES PATENT OPE-6E 2 Claims.

This invention relates to lunch boxes of the type ordinarily carried by workmen, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is the cardinal object of the invention to provide a lunch box in which a novel clasp device is employed for effectively securing a top closure to the main receptacle, yet which may be readily released for removal of the closure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lunch box construction in which a single clasp device is employed cooperable with a handle on the top closure for firmly securing the closure upon the main receptacle.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a lunch box and closure device of extreme simplicity, both as to the manufacture and operation, and which is liable in a minimum degree to derangement.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a side elevation of a lunch box constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

There is illustrated a lunch box generally indicated by the reference character L, consisting of a receptacle portion I substantially rectangular, as well understood, and a closure top 2 adapted to snugly seat over the open end of the receptacle.

Adjacent respective ends of the closure top 2, cars 3 are secured by soldering, welding, or otherwise, between which a handle 3' is fixed in any desired manner. The handle is spaced above the top wall of the closure a suflicient distance to permit the fingers of a hand of a user to be inserted therebeneath so that the lunch box may be readily carried. The handle portion 3 in the present instance is shown as having a planiform vertically disposed front wall 4 and rounded or rolled upper and lower edges 5 extending longitudinally of the handle 3.

A flat leaf spring 6 is employed, one end of which is welded to the bottom of the receptacle, as at l, the spring being positioned intermediately of the length of the receptacle as may be seen in Figure 1. The spring 6 is bent so as to lie parallel to a side wall of the receptacle and the flange portion of the closure and then bent inwardly to lie parallel to the upper wall of the closure top, and finally terminates in a straight portion 8. A substantially C-shaped clasp 9 is welded to the straight portion 8, the open side thereof being presented toward the handle 3'. The open side of the clasp is of such dimensions as to resiliently embrace the rolled edges 5 of the handle, and by lateral pressure upon the the receptacle.

clasp in a direction away from the handle release thereof may be readily effected, permitting removal of the top closure by an upward lift. The released position of the clasp is shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. In order to avoid strain at the point i, a strap member to is extended across the spring 6 and secured to the wall of The straight portion 8 of the spring may have opposed longitudinal edges recessed as at H, to accommodate fingers of the hand of the user.

In use, after the receptacle has been filled, the top closure is placed thereon, but first the spring and clasp is displaced to one side as indicated in dotted lines. When the closure is fully seated, the resilience of the spring will return the clasp in contact with the handle and it is then only necessary to exert a light pressure to cause the C-clip to spring about and embrace the handle. The receptacle may then be carried by the handle without liability of release of the clasp.

The present description has dealt with the construction of a lunch box, but obviously the closure and clasp may be applied to various kinds of containers such as tool boxes, fishing tackle boxes, and the like.

While I have shown and described specifically my invention, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modifications in construction as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a receptacle and removable closure cover therefor, said cover having a rigid handle portion extended in spaced parallel relation to the upper wall of the cover, said handle having a vertically disposed fiat wall and upper and lower rolled edges, a spring strap .member mounted on the receptacle, a clasp member carried by the free end, of the strap member and consisting of opposed resilient clips adapted to engage about the rolled edges of the handle and having a fiat portion between the clips for snugly abutting the vertical wall of the handle, and means adjacent the point of mounting of said spring strap for limiting outward swinging movement of the strap.

2. The combination of a receptacle and removable closure cover therefor, said cover having a rigid handle portion extended in spaced parallel relation to the upper wall of the cover, a spring strap member mounted upon one side of the receptacle and extending upwardly from its point of mounting, the free end of the strap having a resilient clasp device positioned so as to engage said handle when the clasp is forced thereagainst, and means adjacent the point of mounting of said spring strap for limiting outward swinging movement of the strap.

AUGUST B. CHRISTENSEN. 

